This one was published in the now defunct Yellow Chair Review
Sitting in the Bathroom with Nothing Better to Do
The shower water raged
above my apartment but it did
nothing to dampen his voice.
Get out of my way!
His anger seeped into my
bathroom wall, pouring
in from his living room
on the other side.
That’s more money spent!
What have you to say for yourself?
The gentle voice tried to patch
the cracks in his voice, but
still the water wept in.
I tried, I really tried.
Leaving my bath tub ledge,
I hoped the pipes would clear
by the time I returned with the mail
and they did stop.
Later, as the hot water washed over me,
I remembered his nod and
the puppy’s happy tail as both
greeted me outside.
I waved with my letters in hand;
He waved with the soiled rug and
torn newspaper before returning to
his small friend,
I can’t believe you did that.
J.L. Smith 